Means for distinctively marking commodities



May 22, 1934-. F, c WAPPLER 1,959,699

MEANS FOR DISTINGTIVELY MARKING COMMODITIES Filed July 15, 1931 INVENTOR Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My present invention MEANS FOR DISTINCTIVELY MARKING 3 Claims.

relates generally to commodities, especially edible commodities such as sausages, and has particular reference to a means for distinctively marking sausage-like 5 products or the like.

Although I have herein illustrated and shall hereinafter describe my invention as it relates to a conventional type of sausage, nevertheless it will be understood that many phases of my invention are not restricted to this specific type of article.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a means for distinctively marking a sausage-like product or commodity so that the same 0 may be readily and rehab 1y distinguished from competitive commodities and recognized as the product of a specific manufacturer or producer.

A more particular object for producing a distinctive is to provide a means mark which is unique and novel in its characteristics and appearance, utterly harmless to the product or the quality thereof, and which is produced without recourse to any application or impregnation of an extraneous marking material or pigment.

A still further object o f my invention is to provide for a marking of the foregoing character which is practically irremovable and unalterable, whereby permanence is assured under practically all conditions.

Briefly, my invention is discovery that an electric alternating current of h predicated upon the current, especially an igh frequency, when passed through a body such as a sausage in the manner hereinafter to be described in greater detail, produces a novel and unexpected effect, the exact nature of which I do not understand but which permits me, the general objectives It may, therefore, be

nevertheless, to carry out hereinbefore specified. stated that an important feature of my invention lies in a device for providing a distinctive mark upon the surface portion of the commodity by means of an electric current, more especially by employing the ad vantageous characteristics of an alternating current of small amperage and high frequency. In accordance with my invention, the current is caused to pass through the of a novel and uniquely commodity by means configured and constructed marking tool or electrode.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, w

herein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a marking tool of the present character;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the tool of Figure 1, showing the same in operative relationship to a sausage;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a completed commodity of the present character, showing the manner in which the same may be marked.

In Figure 1, I have shown a marking tool which, for illustrative purposes, is adapted to brand or mark a sausage or the like with a distinctive designation in the form of a letter S. A relatively long and thin rod-like member 10 serves as a handle and may advantageously be provided at its rear end with an enlarged hand grip portion 11. The member 10 may be of any desired length, for example, a foot or so, and may have a relatively small cross-sectional diameter of approximately one-eighth inch. The entire handle is preferably made of insulating material, such as hard rubber or its equivalents, and through the center thereof a conductive element 12 is passed which may be of any suitable material adapted to conduct an a1ternating current of the present character. A wire may, for example, be suitable, with a crosssectional diameter of the order of .015 inch.

At its forward end, the member 10 is provided with an enlarged, non-conductive body or block 13 having a substantially smooth forward surface, preferably, though not necessarily, arranged in a plane. At the forward end of the wire-like, conductive element 12 is an electrode element 14 in electrical connection with the wire 12 and of substantially the same diameter. The wire-like element 14 is shaped to define a distinctive figure, such as the letter 8 shown in the 9 drawing, and it is preferably connected to the wire 12 at its midportion, as shown.

It is to be noted that the attenuated, operative edge 14 of the marking tool is substantially flush with the forward surface of the body 13 0 and preferably embedded therein, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the element 14 being, however, exposed along the forward surface of the body 13 so that when the latter is applied to a sausage, as shown in Figure 2, an electric current may be caused to pass through the member 12 and the electrode 14 and thence through the surface with which the electrode 14 is in contact.

At its rear end, the conductive element 12 is illustrated.

adapted to be connected, as at 15, with a lead or wire which extends to one terminal of a source of high frequency, alternating current, and for this purpose the grip 11 may be provided with an attachment terminal or the like in any desired manner.

In carrying out my invention, a sausage such as that shown at 16, by way of illustration, is applied or rested upon a supporting plate or indifferent electrode 17 of conductive material such as metal, and a suitable electrical connection is made, as at 18, with the other terminal of the alternating current source. The plate 1? is preferably, though not necessarily, insulated from the ground, and may be of any suitable configuration or shape to effect an electrical contact with a relatively large and expansive area of the commodity 16. The marking tool is then applied to the sausage by laying the forward face of the body 13 upon a surface portion of the sausage or the like, preferably at the side of the sausage opposite the plate 1'7; but, in any event, along a surface portion removed or remote from the plate 17 so that current will flow through the commodity itself. The effect of the passage of an alternating current of the character mentioned from the distinctively configured line of contact defined by the electrode 14 through the body 16 to the relatively remote and expansive area in contact with the plate 1'7 is not fully understood, but the fact is that a very slight passage of current, applied momentarily or, in any event, for a very short duration, will result in transferring the distinctive configuration of the operative edge 14 of the tool to the surface of the sausage or similar article beneath the tool. Although I have herein referred to the procedure as being a brand, I do not mean to imply that an actual burning or searing is effected, as in branding cattle. None, or, in any event, no appreciable or apparent amount, of the skin or casing of the sausage is burned or seared. It may be that the passage of current has a slight heating or cooking effect upon the casing or the contents of the casing,

or that the constituency of the casing or its contents is in some way altered. It is my theory, although I cannot state it as a fact, that the effect of the passage of current is to alter the characteristics of the casing and the contents immediately beneath the casing in such a manner as to change its inherent pigmentation or opaqueness; and one reason why I believe the effect to be in the nature of cooking is that the ultimate boiling or cooking of the commodity tends to make the distinctive marki'ngfmore faint, possibly by altering or transforming the remainder of the article in a similar manner.

Whatever the phenomenon may be, the finished product is entirely unimpaired both in quality and characteristics; the skin or casing is left intact; no extraneous pigmentation or foreign matter has been applied or impregnated;

; and yet the product bears a distinctive mark which is clearly visible and readily recognizable and which is entirely irremovable by any washing, scraping, or chemical application.

In Figure 4, I have shown a mark 19 of a character which would be produced on the body 16 by carrying out my invention with the tool Obviously, my invention is not restricted to a configuration in the form of letter S, and other suitable marking may be devised or employed,

such as any of the other letters of the alphabet, numerals, or, if desired, names of persons or concerns, trade marks, designs, or the like. Also, it is not necessary that the mark be applied to a side of the body as illustrated; nor need it be applied by the particular tool herein illustrated by way of example.

Furthermore, although I have found my invention of particular utilityand value in connection with sausages, which are inherently meat commodities, it will be understood that it might apply with equal facility to the branding or markingof analogous products of a conductive character whether the same be of meat or not.

Moreover, although I have not illustrated nor described the specific source of alternating current whichmay be employed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any suitable electrical current having the necessary characteristics of high frequency, voltage, and amperage, may be used; and any desired apparatus for generating such a current or for generating sustained high frequency alternations of the desired character may be used. For example, the apparatus might be of the general character which is employed in certain surgical operations for purposes of electrical resection and coagulation.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A marking tool of the character described, comprising a non-conductive body having a substantially plane surface, and an electrode embedded in said body and provided with a distinctively configured, attenuated, operative edge exposed along said plane surface, said electrode being conductive of high-frequency electric curent, whereby the application of said plane surface to the surface of a conductive commodity such as a sausage will permit the passage of a high-frequency electric current through said sausage from an area of contact conforming to said distinctive configuration.

2. A marking tool of the character described, comprising a non-conductive body having a substantially smooth forward surface, and an electrode associated with said body and provided with a distinctively configured, attenuated, operative edge exposed on said forward surface and arranged substantially in the plane of said surface, said electrode being conductive of highfrequency electric current, whereby the application of said surface to the surface of a conductive commodity such as a sausage will permit the passage of high-frequency electric current through said sausage from an area of contact conforming to said distinctive configura-,

tion.

3. A marking device for a conductive commodity such as a sausage, comprising a source of high-frequency electric current, an indifferent electrode connected to one terminal of said source and adapted to establish a relatively ex.- Y

pansive contact with a portion of said commodplication of said active electrode to the surface of the commodity at an area remote from the indifferent electrode will permit the passage of high-frequency electric current through said commodity from an area of contact conforming to said distinctive configuration.

FREDERICK CHARLES WAPPLER. 

